Collapsible form



0. D. SHAW.

COLLAPSIBLE FORM.

APPUCATION FILED JUNEZZ, I916.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Suva whom PATENT OFFICE.

ORA D. sHAw, or PHILADELP IA, PENNSYLVANIA.

COLLAPSIBLE FORM.

Application filed June 22, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ORA D. SHAW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain useful Improvements in Collapsible Forms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The invention relates to knock-down or collapsible structures, and more particularly to the class of collapsible forms applicable to many articles, including cartons, trunks, shipping cases, crates or other box-like structures or articles of furniture.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a form of this character wherein certain of the sections thereof are foldable in conjunction with the other sections in a novel manner so that the form can be quickly knocked down or folded into fiat compact condition, causing the sections thereof to lie in superimposed relation, and all of the sections to assume a rectangular unit.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a form of this character which will permit erection or collapse thereof with despatch and without interference of any one or more ofthe sections with each other during such collapse or erection, and at the same time assuring the requisite rigidity and strength of the form when erected.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a collapsible form of this character wherein a body portion, a rigid frame hinged to the body portion and a lid carried by said frame are provided, the frame being used for the purpose of reinforcing the erected form and when itis knocked down for inclosing the folded body portion and the whole of the form being suitable for rough handling and capable of being locked or held in its folded or set up condition. y v

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a form of this character wherein the shape thereof enables ,the use of fixed and rigid material which can be folded into superimposedlayers which ordinarily, by reason of theinflexibility of the materials, would prevent the possible collapsing orfolding thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a form of this character Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Serial No. 105,163.

which is extremely simple in construction, strong, durable, thoroughly reliable and efficient in its purpose, readily and easily set up and folded and inexpensive in manufacture.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter set forth.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a collapsible form which in this instance illustrates a shipping box constructed in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the initial folding of the box;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the box looking toward the front thereof;

Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse sectional view;

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the box folded;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a still further modification, in this instance shown as a collapsible lunch box;

Fig. 7 is a vertical transverse sectional view through Fig. 6, taken medially thereof;

Fig. 8 is an edge elevation showing the box folded of the structure shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

Similar reference characters indicate corequilateral rectangular shape, while the bottom, front, back and top are of oblong rectangular shape. The bottom 1), front 0, back d and top 6 can be varied in size but must not be decreased within the minimum area of an equilaterallrectangle or square, yet they maybe increased in area in proportions not to exceed less than two equilateral rectangles or squares, yet on a further increase the length thereof can be greater than two squares while the ends a must have an area the height of which cannot exceed the width, yet the height may be less than the width, while the maximum area is an equilateral square, and in this manner the capacity of the form can be varied as the occasion may require.

clwingingly connected to the back (Z is an oblong rectangular frame 10, and swingingly connected to the rear wall of this frame is the top 6 which has fixed thereto end and front edge cleats 11 and 12 respectively so as to overlap the frame 10 when the top 0 rests thereon. the top 6 being in this instance swingingly connected to the frame 10 through the medium (if st 'ap hinges 13, while said frame 10 similarly connected to the back (Z through the medium of the hinges 1% for relative swinging movement withrespect to each other.

The ends a ar cut to provide triangular sections 15, the hypotenuse 1(5 of which meet with each other, and at this line of separation which meets diagonally opposed corners of the ends are arranged hinges 17 which are fastened to the outer faces of the sections 15 to permit inward folding thereof. The ends a. are connected to the front and back a and (Z through the medium of hinges 18 which are fastened to the inner faces thereof and the meeting edges 19 of which are beveled to provide close joints at the hinged points therebetween.

The ends a, bottom 7) and back d contiguous to the meeting edges thereof carry end and back strips 19 and 20 respectively, to which are connected hinges 21, the strips being designed'to space the ends o from the bottom Z) and the front (2 from the said bottom for the proper folding thereof when the sections 15 of the ends are folded inwardly to lie superposed between the front c and the back (Z, which front is connected to the bottom Z at the meeting edges thereof through the medium of hinges 22 and is formed by the cutting thereof into medial and outer triangularshaped sections 23 and 21 respectively, the hypotenuse 25 of each section 2 1- meeting the angular edge of the section 2 and these hypotenuses of the sections 2 and the angular edge of the section 23 extend from the lower corners of the front 0 to a point medially of said front for intersecting a gap or notch 26 which is formed by cutting away the sections 23 and 2 1 at this point so that on the folding of the sections which are connected together by means of hinges 27 mounted on the outer faces thereof at the meeting edges thereof the said sections will not abut the back (Z of the form A, thereby clearing the same when it is being collapsed or folded. The spacer strips 20 are of triangular shape in cross section as shown to aline the pintles of the hinges 21 connected thereto with the lines of fold between the sections 15 of the ends a and the bottom 6 and back (Z, as shown, and these hinges will be properly disposed for the arcuate or swinging movement of said bottom and back to permit the inward fold ing of the sections 15 of the ends a of the form. The meeting edges between the ends a, bottom 5, front 0 and back (Z are beveled at 28 so that on'the'se-tting up of the form these edges will abut with each other and thereby prevent outward bulging of its walls and also provide a ciose joint between the same.

The frame 10 at its front has hinged thereto on the inner face of the same a reinforcing strip 29which extends the length of the frame and is designed to overlap the front 0 at the inner face thereof when the form A. is set up, while carried by this strip medially thereof, is a filling block 30 which is correspondingly shaped to and adapted to be received in the gap or recess 26 in the front 0 so as to close the same when the form is set up. On the strip 29 are braces 31 which extend downwardly across the inner face of the front 0 to overlap the meeting edges between the sections 23 and 24 thereof, and this strip 29 and braces 31 are detachably fastened to the front as at 32 and also the strip 29 carries catches 33 which detachably engage in the ends a, so that the body proper of the form A is securely fastened in set up condition. On disengaging the fasteners 32 and 33 and folding the strip 29 and braces 31 inwardly the front 0 will readily fold inwardly and in synchronous order the ends a will also fold inwardly whereupon the bottom I) and back (Z will approach each other and will sume the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, with the front and ends folded within the frame 10, while the top 6 rests against the said frame when the form is in folded position, and it will thus be seen that the form will be in compact collapsed condition.

In Figs. 6, '7 and 8 there is shown a 1nodi fication'of the invention, wherein the body 1D simulates the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 1 inclusive of the drawings, with the exception that the weakened or diagonal crease lines 53 are formed in the back in contra-distinction to the same being in front, and the lid or cover is formed with a flap at its rear edge which is riveted at 56 or otherwise fastened to the medial triangular section 57 of the back, while the remaining portion of, said flap is free from the back. and the top 54 swings on the fold .line 58 therebetween. The inedia-l section 57 of the back carries a socket member 59 while the flap 55 carries a snap stud member 60 adapted for detachable engagement in the socket member 59 when the body D is set up, thereby preventing the inward folding of the back thereof. The opposite ends 61 of the body D are provided with diagonally disposed weakened or crease lines 62 which intersect the corners of said ends 61 and constitute the hypotenuse of each triangle formed thereby in the ends, which latter fold upon the crease lines 62 inwardly on the collapsing of the body D, as will be apparent. The front 63 and bottom 64 of the body D each has arranged therein a socket member 65 while carried by the marginal flange 66 on the cover or lid 54 medially at the front thereof is a tab 67 carrying a stud snap member 68 which is adapted for detachable engagement in either of the socket members 65 when the body D isset up or folded and when set up the lid or cover 54 in this manner is fastened closed. Vhen the body D is collapsed the tab 67 with the stud 68 fastens the lid or cover 54 in position for containing the folded body D as is clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings. This body D, with the cover or lid 54, is preferably made from relatively flexible material such as cardboard, papier-mach or the like. The flap 55 on the cover or lid 54 is formed with a longitudinally disposed weakened or crease line 69 and is parallel with the riveted edge portion thereof and likewise the back of the body D near its upper longitudinal free edge is formed with a crease line 70 which permits the proper folding of the body into the cover or lid .54 when the form is collapsed. In the collapsing of the body D the stud 60 is detached from the socket member 59, thereby freeing the flap for a greater portion of its extent, and this is done when the lid or cover 54 has been raised, whereupon the back of the body folds inwardly and synchronously therewith the ends fold, bringing the body to collapsed condition.

It is contemplated within the generic scope of the invention to employ hinged connections of various forms between the sections and walls of the bodies and also it is intended to use various types of fasteners for securing the lids or covers closed and the bodies in collapsed condition of the various structures hereinbefore described, as these details in the make-up'of the forms do not constitute the salient features of the invention, nor is any important significance to be given to the specific forms of the walls, bottom and cover or lid because the same may be varied as it is contemplated to construct the same in skeleton form and can be made from any material, the essence or salient features of the invention being in the lines of demarcation for the folding of certain of the walls of the body and the variable areas of such walls with respect to each other. Now with respect to the adaptation of the structure, the invention is not rehereinbefore described, because it is contemplated to build articles of furniture of the folding type and also to make baskets for receiving fruit, vegetables or other commodities, and these will simulate the folding characteristics of the forms hereinbefore described.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the herein described collapsible form will be readily apparent and, therefore, a more extended explanation has been omitted.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a collapsible container having a depth substantially equal to its width connected bottom side and end walls, said end walls and one of said side walls being composed of foldable sections whereby they may be collapsed inwardly against the. bottom wall and the other side wall folded inwardly thereupon, said foldable side wall being provided with a central recess in its top edge and having its lines of fold extending from the lower corners thereof inwardly and terminated by said recess whereby collision between opposite side walls in the operation of folding is prevented.

2. In a collapsible container having a depth substantially equal to its width c0nnected bottom side and end walls, said end walls and one of said side walls being composed of foldable sections whereby they may be collapsed inwardly against the bottom wall and the other side wall folded inwardly thereupon, said foldable side wall being provided with a central recess in its top edge and its lines of fold extending from the lower corners thereof inwardly and terminating atthe inner corners of said recess respectively whereby collision between opposite side walls in the operation of folding is prevented.

3. A collapsible container comprising connected bottom, side and end walls, said end walls and one of the side walls being composed of foldable sections whereby they may be collapsed inwardly against the bottom wall and the other side wall folded inwardly thereupon, a rigid rectangular frame, hinged to the last named side wall, arranged to inclose and limit outward movement of said sectional side and end walls when the container is in set up position and to inclose said bottom, side and end walls when the container is in collapsed position, means carried by said rectangular frame to engage and prevent collapsing movement of said sectional side and end walls, and a cover hinged to said rectangular frame.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ORA D. SHAIV. 

